Key international real estate news overview

The UK is raising taxes for hotels and cafés, France is increasing pressure on short-term rental owners, Spain is recording a rise in regional rental rates, while Georgia is strengthening its position as a key destination for hotel brands and investors.



Tax nightmare for hotels and cafés in the UK

From April 2026, the UK authorities will increase taxes on commercial real estate and cut sector-specific tax relief. The Leon chain has already closed 15 outlets. More than 2,000 companies — or six businesses a day — may take similar decisions.

France: court changes the rules for Airbnb

The ruling opens the door to mass lawsuits. Municipalities will be able to claim compensation for years of illegal rentals.

Amsterdam: home sales are rising

Over the year, the number of transactions increased by almost 20%. The average price per square metre rose by 4.7% and for the first time since 2022 came close to €5,500.

Paris: wealthy buyers are leaving the housing market

The windfall tax brought only €400 million to the budget instead of the expected €1.9 billion — owners of prime real estate are moving capital out of France.

Serbia: seasonal rentals without illusions

High occupancy lasts only a few months a year; outside the season, returns drop sharply even in Belgrade and Novi Sad.

Spain: regional rents up by 15%

Over the year, rent growth has been recorded in mid-sized cities and coastal areas — the housing shortage has moved beyond Madrid and Barcelona.

Elite Family Residence in Gonio: project overview

Tourism growth in Georgia is boosting demand for high-quality hotel formats and serviced residences. Against this backdrop, investor attention is increasingly shifting towards projects with international brands and transparent income models.

After the completion of Elite Family Residence in Gonio, a logical continuation is the Wyndham Grand Batumi Gonio complex by the same developer — one of the few projects in the region offering guaranteed returns and professional branded management.

Why Georgia is attractive for brands and investors

In 2025, international tourism revenues in Georgia reached $4.69 billion. This is 6% higher than in 2024 and nine times higher than the COVID low of 2020. The sector has shown steady growth for several years and has set a new historical record, firmly establishing itself as one of the key sources of foreign currency inflows for the economy.

The revenue structure has also changed: previously, the main contribution came from the summer season, but now the second and fourth quarters have strengthened significantly. Even January–March figures exceeded the levels of the same period in previous years.

Among the top source markets are Russia ($694 million) and Turkey ($605.9 million). Israel ranks third, with a 34% increase to $586.3 million. The top five also include Azerbaijan and Armenia. Tourism revenues from Saudi Arabia, the EU, and other countries have grown significantly.

Galt & Taggart forecast an increase to $4.9 billion in 2026. The government expects growth to $6.4 billion by 2028. For brands and investors, this means diversified demand with a growing share of higher-spending markets, which improves revenue predictability and return on investment across hotels, food & beverage, retail, and service formats.

Registration for the online webinar on February 5

Most investors assess real estate based on visuals and promises. But income is generated by a different logic — through unmet demand and the economics of the location.

At the webinar, we will explain how to identify real demand, how to distinguish it from marketing, and why this logic should guide project selection. We will present five projects and income models that actually generate returns.

Participants will also receive access to a GPT assistant for initial evaluation of their own properties.

Date: February 5 (Thursday)

Time:
15:00 UTC
18:00 Moscow
19:00 Dubai

Registration

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